Rod stacking and handling apparatus

ABSTRACT

Stacking and handling apparatus for drilling rods or tubular elements, comprising a girder pivotable about a horizontal axis between a horizontal position wherein it is adapted to pick up a horizontal rod or tubular element at a storage station, and a vertical position wherein it is adapted to align said rod with the drilling axis of a derrick. Both the girder and the derrick are provided with rod or tubular element gripping and moving assemblies. Control means are provided for the girder, the derrick and their assemblies, and a switching circuit is provided to connect said control means and to control the movement of the girder, the derrick and their assemblies.

O United States Patent [151 3,682,259 Cintract et al. 451 A g, 8, 1972[$4] ROD STACKING AND HANDLING 2,692,059 10/1954 Bolling, Jr. ..l75/85APPARATUS R 26,284 10/ 1967 O'Neill et a1. ..l75/85 [72] Inventors:Bernard G. an 2 Place des 2,187,392 1/1940 Chappell ..2l4/2.5 EcolesBoubgne G. Sum 3,061,011 10/1962 Paget ..l75/85 6 w Piena Ronsard. 95Garges les 3,177,944 4/1965 Knights ..175/8S Gonesse both of FrancePrimary Examiner-James A. Leppink [22] Filed: April 13, 1970Att0rneySughrue, Rothwel], Mion, Zinn & Macpeak Stacking and handlingapparatus for drilling rods or [30] Foreign Appucaflo Priority Damtubular elements, comprising a girder pivotable about Jan. 9, 1970France ..7000681 8 horizontal axis between a horizontal Position whereinit is adapted to pick up a horizontal rod or tu- 52 us. 01. ..175/85,214/25, 254/139 bular element at a Storage station, and a vertical P 511111. C1 ..F2lb 19/00 W it is e align .said M with the 58 Field ofSearch 175/85, 5, 7, a, 10; 214/25; dflllmg am 9 3 s the 81rd" and254/139 rick are provided with rod or tubular element gnppmg and movingassemblies. Control means are provided [56] Reiemnces Cited for thegirder, the derrick and their assemblies, and a switching circuit isprovided to connect said control UNITED STATES PATENTS means and tocontrol the movement of the girder, the 3,280,920 10/1966 Scott..214/2.5 demck and mmbhes' 2,643,005 6/1953 Jarnett ..2l4/2.5 10Claims, 20 Drawing figures PATENTED F 8 3.682 259 SHEET 1 [IF 9PATENTEDMIF BIHTZ 3.682 259 sum 2 0f 9 PATENTEDMIB 8'97? 3.682 259 sum 3or 9 PATENTEUMIR 9 3.682.259 sum s or 9 ,Ir P 102 PATENTEDAuc a ma SHEET7 [IF 9 uni PATENTEDm: 8 I972 SHEU 8 OF 9 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1Field of the Invention This invention relates to automatic rod stackingand handling apparatus, especially for drilling in the ocean, in whichthe rods are transferred to a derrick by means of a tipping girder, theentire assembly being designed to constitute a rapid and reliableautomatic system.

2. Description of the Prior Art There are already in existence stackingsystems in which the rods are arranged in horizontal rows and are thenput in the vertical drilling position in the derrick. These systemsperform this transfer operation either with the help of a mobile arm,provided with a device for grasping the rod to be transferred, the twoends of the arm being guided in rails, or with the help of thepulley-block of the derrick which is connected to a tightening collar,placed at one end of the rod, the other end being borne by a cart. Withthe help of a tipping girder, such systems can move the rod directlyinto the axis of the rod train.

Although these systems make it possible or would make it possible, inthe case of some of them, to hold 27-meter rods, none of these systemssimultaneously meets the criteria of reliability, safety, speed, andeconomy required in a modern ocean drilling installatron.

By way of example, the systems using a tipping girder for the transferof rods from a horizontal position to a vertical position situated inthe axis of the drill hole, require a radical change in conventionalderricks so as to prevent the loss of time which would result fromhaving to raise the conventionally designed handling pulley block priorto bringing up a new rod. ln effect, if we want to increase the speed ofthe system, the rod must be centered automatically and must be raised orlowered automatically by means of a special lifting head, with anautomatic key of a novel type assuring the maintenance of the train ofrods during the screwing or unscrewing of the rod that is being held.This then leads to a rather cumbersome and awkward solu- IIOI'I.

The system using the pulley block of the derrick to move the rod from ahorizontal position into a vertical position is worthwhile in that noneof the conventional members of the derrick is in any way afi'ected, butit does entail the inconvenience of mobilizing the pulley block, whichin turn leads to a major loss of time, particularly every time thedrilling tool must be changed.

As to the utilization of a transfer girder guided with the help of railsat each of its ends, this solution entails the inconvenience of havingto control the complex movement and supplying energy to the mechanicalmembers carried on such a girder.

Furthermore, the systems for lining up the rods in a horizontal positionare more or less adapted to the automatic pick up of rods with the helpof a tipping girder and do not lend themselves to flexible, reliable,and rapid transfer automation.

Finally, we do not know of any system capable of manipulating the heavyelements, such as pipes and drill collars, without the risk of danger topersonnel because of the always unforeseeable displacements in the caseof marine drilling where such heavy elements can always be shiftedfreely within a certain area in the course of their manipulation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The primary object of this invention consistsof a rapid, economical, and highly reliable system, characterized by thefact that it involves, in combination: (a) a derrick including, inaddition to the maneuvering arms, the pulley block, the elevator and itscollar, a holding means, and a means for moving the pulley block outsidethe drilling axis, the pulley block being capable of shifting verticallyin its new position; and (b) a girder tipping around the horizontal axisincluding retractable means for grasping a rod in order to move it froma horizontal position into a vertical position and vice versa, one ofsaid grasping means involving a locking mechanism capable of graspingthe rod in order to move it perpendicularly to the axis of the girder.

Another object of the invention is a stacking system for drilling ofthis type, involving furthennore a station for the horizontal line up ofrods, including means for moving each rod over a precise distance fromthe axis of said girder, when the latter is in a horizontal position, aswell as means for moving the end of each rod perpendicularly to aprecise point on the axis of the girder, the rotation axis of the girderitself being situated on the derrick in such a position that the tippingof the girder, carrying a rod picked up by said grasping means in aretracted position, will move said rod outside the track of the pulleyblock into a nonstaggered position, said grasping means in thenonretracted position moving the rod into the axis of the drill hole.

Such a system offers many advantages. We might note that, contrary tocertain automatic assemblies, it can be used with such component partsof the normal derrick as the winch, the pulley block, the automatic rodscrewing and unscrewing device, constituting the train of drilling rods,while providing a reliable and rapid system.

in effect, a rod, which can be moved on the derrick into the verticalposition outside the track of the pulley block when the grasping meansof the grider are retracted, pennits simultaneous operations.Furthermore, since the pulley block can be staggered outside the axis ofdrilling, it is possible, without waiting for the pulley block to comeback up, to place a rod, grasped by the girder, in the axis of the drillhole by simply displacing said retractable grasping means. Thus,contrary to the earlier devices, where the transported rod had to beheld up until the pulley block had come back up, and contrary to thespecial derricks requiring modifications in the pulley block and makingit possible to hold only rods of small dimensions, e.g., about 9 meters,it is now possible, by virtue of the combination accom plished here,rapidly to move a large dimension rod, e.g., about 27 meters, into theaxis of the drill hole, the pulley block being able to go back up duringsaid operation.

Another object of the invention is a stacking system of the typeindicated whose pulley block staggering device involves a slide baralong which the pulley block can move, with a cart supporting said slidebar and a jack, said cart being guided vertically by means of two railsand said jack displacing the pulley block from a first position, inwhich the axis of the pulley block coincides with the axis of the drillhole, to a second position situated in the vertical axis of the mousehole.

The importance of such a device results not only from the possibility ofrapidly moving the pulley block out of the way, but also from the factthat it permits the descent or rise of the pulley block during theperformance of any other operation in the axis of the drill hole, suchas the movement of a new rod, for example. Furthermore, the coincidenceof the axis of the pulley block, in the offset or out of the wayposition, and the axis of the mouse hole makes it possible to add rodsmore simply and consequently faster than with the earlier systems sincethe screwing is performed in the vertical position, and no longer in anoblique position.

Another object of the invention is an automatic stacking system of thetype indicated, in which said tipping girder furthermore involves ameans for engaging or hooking onto its upper portion, cooperating with alocking device attached on the derrick, with a view to positioning thetransported rods with precision, as well as a lower stop to supportheavy elements, such as drill collars and pipes, the position of thestop on the girder being such that, when the girder is tipped into thevertical position, it is at a vertical distance from the joint having toreceive the new rod or element and this distance is less than 30 cm.

This device not only facilitates the precise and reliable manipulationof rods but also that of heavy elements, such as pipes and drillcollars, since these elements are transported by said tipping girderuntil they are in the vertical position above the axis of the drill holeand these elements are positively retained thereon. In this way we avoidthe risks of danger produced by the fortuitous displacements of theseelements in the course of their handling and especially thedisplacements caused by a swell, in the case of a maritime installation.This system furthermore offers the advantage of increasing the speed ofthe placement of the elements since the latter are moved to theproximity of the tightening device.

Another object of the invention is the system of the type indicated,each of whose displaced components, such as the pulley block movedbeyond the axis of the drill hole, grasping means moved away from theirinitial grasping position, tightening mechanism, and girder tipped froma horizontal position to a vertical position, is associated with twomembers each of which transmits a control signal, one signal when themember is in its initial position and the other signal when said memberhas been displaced to a second position. Each of said signaltransmission members is activated by the displaced member or by itsmoving mechanism arriving at the end of its travel, similar transmittermembers being furthermore provided on the arms and the nippers of thederrick as well as on the collar of the elevator and the rod tighteningmechanism, control connections, associated with triggering meansoperated by the operator, being provided between said control signaltransmission members and said members serving for the displacement ofthe various above mentioned components, so that: (a) the triggering ofsimilar member displacement means belonging to one and the sameassembly; assembly of nippers of derrick, assembly of arms of derrick,assembly of thrust stop and of girder arms, and assembly of girdernippers, will bring about the simultaneous and synchronized displacementof the displacement members belonging to that same assembly; and (b) thedisplacements, within each assembly of similar members, will take placeso as to accomplish the same function; either the retraction of the armsor the outward extension of the arms, or the closing of the nippers, ortheir opening.

In this way, we get an extremely flexible and reliable automation of thestacking system that is the object of this invention since it sufficesto group the various automatic assemblies thus constituted in order tobring about the automatic performance of the operations of raising orlowering the train of rods. The automatic system may be either total orit may be limited, in which case the operator must, as in the past,control the winch of the derrick during the performance of a group ofparticular functions. The advantage of such a system is that it permitsthe automation of certain operations while still preserving theconventional components of the derrick.

Another object of the invention is a system of the preceding type, inwhich:

a. The control signal transmitting member, associated with the openingof the elevator, is connected to the means for controlling the offsetmovement of the pulley block outside of the axis of the drill holes;

b. The control signal transmission member, associated with the means forthe control of the return of the pulley block into the axis of the drillhole is connected to the means for the control of the closing of theelevator;

c. The control signal transmission member, associated with the outwardextension of the arms of the derrick is connected to the means for thecontrol of the closing of the nippers of the arms of the derrick;

d. The control signal transmission member, associated with the openingof the nippers in the derrick, is connected to the means for the controlof the retraction of the arms of the derrick;

e. A triggering member, handled by the operator, is provided for theindividual control of the following components: the opening and closingof the collar of the elevator, the offsetting and return of the pulleyblock into the axis of the drill hole, the operation of the tighteningkey, the tipping and return of the girder into the initial position, theretraction and return of the girder arms, the raising and lowering ofthe intermediate arm of the girder, the opening and closing of thenippers of the girder, the extension and return of the arms of thederrick, the opening and closing of the nippers of the derrick and thelocking-unlocking of the girder in the vertical position; and

f. A special switch enables the operator either to use said controlmeans individually, when said switch is switched to a first controlposition, the so-called semiautomatic position, or to trigger theautomatic performance of the operations of raising the train of rodswhen said switch is connected to a second position, or to trigger theautomatic performance of the operations involving the lowering of thetrain of rods when said switch is switched to a third position, or tosuppress the automatic and semi-automatic connections when the switch isswitched to a fourth position.

Another object of the invention is a system of this type in which aportion of said grasping means,

mounted on the girder, is utilized exclusively for holding the pipes anddrill collars and another portion is utilized for holding the rods, asecond switch member placing off-circuit the connections usedexclusively for holding the rods when said second member is switched toa second position.

The system involved in this invention, therefore, enables us to easilyproceed to automatic operations involving the raising and lowering ofthe rod train or of heavy elements such as pipes and collars by means ofthe successive activation of the means for the control of thedisplacement of the above mentioned components, since it suffices tomanipulate, in addition to a simple switch mechanism for the purpose ofswitching from one automatic arrangement to another one, a second switchmember for the purpose of changing from the holding of the rods to theholding of heavy elements.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will emerge from thefollowing specifications given here with reference to the attacheddrawing which, by way of example, represents one way of implementing astacking system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic elevational andpartially cutaway view of the assembly of the mechanical parts of thesystem or apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the system shown in FIG. 1, after thegirder has been tipped into the horizontal position, with the metallicstructure of the derrick being cut away and the components for holdingthe rods and the pulley block being shown;

FIG. 3 is a schematic elevational view of a device for the control ofthe displacement of one arm of the derrick;

FIG. 4 is a schematic elevational view of a device for the control ofthe mechanism used in closing and opening nippers of the derrick;

FIG. 5 is a schematic elevational view of the mechanism for thedisplacement of the pulley block on its support;

FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of the collar of the elevator;

FIG. 7 is the schematic representation of the member of the key fortightening the rods on their joints;

FIG. 8 is a schematic elevational view of the girder in the verticalposition with its locking device;

FIG. 9 is a schematic elevational view of the end of the girder tippedinto the horizontal position;

FIG. 10 is a schematic elevational view of the device for controllingthe opening and closing of one of the nippers of an arm of a girder;

FIG. 11 is a schematic elevational view of the mechanism for thedisplacement of an arm of the girder perpendicularly to the axis of thegirder and of the mechanism for displacement parallel to the axis;

FIG. 12 shows the portion of the circuit diagram for the controls thatstart the automatic operation of the system;

FIG. 13 shows a portion of the circuit diagram shown in FIG. 12,relative to the control of the displacement of the arms of the girderperpendicularly to its axis;

FIG. 14 shows a portion of the circuit diagram shown in FIG. 12,relative to the control of the nippers of the arms of the girder;

FIG. 15 shows the portion of the circuit diagram of FIG. 12, relative tothe control of one of the arms of the girder parallel to its axis;

FIG. 16 shows the portion of the circuit diagram of FIG. 12, relative tothe control of the opening and closing of the elevator as well as to thecontrol of the sideways staggering of the pulley block;

FIG. 17 shows the portion of the circuit diagram of FIG. 12, relative tothe control of the tightening key;

FIG. 18 shows the portion of the circuit diagram of FIG. 12, relative tothe control of the arms and the nippers of the derrick;

FIG. 19 shows the portion of the circuit diagram of FIG. 12, relative tothe control of the tipping of the girder and to the control of itslocking in the vertical position; and

FIG. 20 shows the diagram for the connection of FIGS. 13-19 to FIG. 12.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The automatic stacking systemfor drilling and especially for ocean drilling essentially involves ahorizontal rod stacking device designated by reference 15, FIG. 1, thetipping girder l6 and a derrick 17. We will not describe each of thesecomponents of the system in detail since the horizontal stacking devicehas already been described in French Pat. application No. 6,938,7Sl,filed by applicant on Nov. 12, I969, under the title: System for LiningUp and Withdrawing Rods in the Horizontal Position," the tipping girder16 having been described in French Pat. application No. 6,939,135, filedby applicant on Nov. 14, I969 under the title: Tipping Girder for aTransfer of Rods or Tubular Elements Especially for Drilling," and thederrick here differing from earlier derricks only by virtue of thearrangements and the new components which alone will be described here.

To facilitate the explanation, we will assume that the two membersassociated with any displacement of the movable members of the systemwhich each transmit a control signal in accordance with the invention(one. when the movable member with which it is associated is in theinitial position, the other one when the movable member is in thedisplaced position), are constituted, for example, by a valve that isopen when it is in contact with the displaced member or the meansserving to displace it, said valve closing automatically the moment thedisplaceable member has left it in order to stop any distribution ofcontrol fluid.

It is clear that numerous other equivalent devices could be used andthat said valves could be replaced by simple electrical contactsestablishing a circuit controlling an electric valve. However, toclarify the circuits to be discussed later on, we assume that any signaltransmission member will, when it is activated by a mechanicalcomponent, open a hydraulic control circuit. Such members are well knownand are shown only schematically in FIGS. 3-11 by means of rectanglesbearing references such as a to t.

For greater clarity and in order to facilitate the reading of thecircuits, we have assumed that the signals transmitted by members, suchas u,vw, n, have a limited duration, so that the circuits controllingone and the same member act upon said member only for a limited durationof the automatic rod train rise or descent cycle.

Thus, collar 18 of the elevator, FIGS. 1, 5, arid 6, supports a controlmember in the form of a jack I whose rod 19, attached by one of its endsto the pivoting portion 20 of the collar, involves two stops 21 and 22,cooperating respectively with the two control members or valves e and f,carried by jack 1. When the collar is in the open position, the valve f,activated by stop 22, allows the passage of control fluid, whereas inthe closed position, shown in broken line 5, valve f is closed and valvee is opened to allow the passage of control fluid.

In a similar manner, pulley block 23, FIGS. 1 and 5, controls one or theother of the two control members or valves and d, depending upon theposition which it occupies on slide bar 24. According to the invention,the pulley block 23 may in effect be displaced with the help of jack 2so as to occupy a first position in the axis of the drill hole, as shownin FIG. 1, and in this case, 23 is in contact with member d, or a secondposition, where it is in contact with member c. In this latter position,the axis of the pulley block coincides with the axis of the mouse hole25, FIG. 2. Contrary to the floor of earlier derricks, the axis of themouse hole is vertical and not obliquie, thus greatly facilitating theoperations of adding the rods stored at 26. The transition of the pulleyblock 23 from one position to the other is accomplished by simplyactivating jack 2 whose rod end is pivoted on lever 27 having a groove28 in which a shaft 29 of pulley block 23 is engaged. The slide bar 24is mounted on a support cart 30 of the pulley block, said cart moving onthe vertical guide rails 31 and 32, and cable 33 moving the pulley blockvertically.

Each of the derrick holding arms 8A1, 831, and 8C], FIGS. I and 2, hasnippers 9A], 981, or 9CI, and is controlled by mechanisms similar tothose shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 so as to move toward the axis of drillingand so as to grasp the rods that are positioned there. In FIG. 3, thearm 8A1 is controlled by any mechanism, e. g., a chain controlled by amotor, and this mechanism involving the control members 211 and blactivated respectively by stops 34 and 35, depending upon whether arm8A] is extended outwardly or is in the retracted position. For greaterclarity, the mechanism for the opening and closing of nippers 9A] isshown schematically at 9A, FIG. 4, this mechanism being mounted onsupport 9A3 of the nippers, the rod bearing the two stops 36 and 37activating the closing lever 9A2 of the nippers. When the nippers are inthe closed position, stop 36 activates the control member I I, and whenthe nippers are in the open position, stop 37 activates member ml.

Similar mechanisms control the arms 8B] and 8C1 as well as their nippers9B] and 9C].

In addition to the radial or longitudinal movements of these arms, theupper arm 8A1 can be moved in a horizontal plane along two perpendiculardirections, arm 881 can be moved also vertically along post 38, and arm8C1 can pivot around the vertical axis of its support.

Tightening key 3 is of any known type and is shown schematically in FIG.2 and FIG. 7. This device is associated with two control members shownsymbolically by rectangles g and x. The first member 3 is activatedevery time the pushbutton 39 of member 3 is depressed by the descent ofkey 3, which occurs whenever the key 3, having been set in rotary motionand raised to tighten or loosen a rod on its joint, returns to itsinitial position. When the torque indicator 1 1 indicates apredetermined value, member .r is activated.

Girder 16, FIGS. 1, 8, and 9, pivots around the axis 40 of the derrick.It is set in motion by jack 4 and has in its upper portion a lockingpiece 41, on which is hooked the lock 42, controlled by the rod of jack10. This lock has two control members I and s activated by stops 43 and44 on the rod of the jack. When the girder l6 arrives in the verticalposition, as shown in FIG. 8, it activates the member h by stop 45. Whenthe girder is returned to the horizontal position by jack 4, anotherstop 46 triggers the control member 1'.

The device for moving rods 15 includes horizontal screw conveyors 47which accomplish the perfectly parallel translation of the rods, whichare then displaced vertically by vertical conveyors 48, after which theyare advanced longitudinally to a stop 49 to assume the position of therod 50 shown in FIGS. I and 2. The support level 51 of the rod 50 issuch that, when the girder is in the horizontal position, its graspingarms are at the same level as the position of the rod 50 in the waitingposition.

In the embodiment of the girder I6 shown in FIG. 2, only the nippers7B1, function to engage 27 meter rods, such as 50, and support them. Theother nippers 7A1, 7C], and 7D] serve as guides. The jacks 5A, 5B, 5C,and 5D control the displacement of the nippers perpendicularly to theaxis of the girder, with jack 6 controlling the longitudinaldisplacement of nippers 7B], and jack 5E controlling the displacement ofa stop serving to support heavy elements such as pipes and drillcollars.

By way of example, we have illustrated schematically in FIG. 10, at 7A,the jack for the control of the opening and closing of nippers 7A1. Asin the case of the derrick nipper mechanisms, the jack rod has two stops5] and 52, activating the control members r] and ql, r1 being activatedwhen the nippers are closed.

In FIG. 11, we have shown the control mechanism for the girder nippers7B1 capable of being displaced longitudinally. Jack 58, which controlsthe displace ment perpendicularly to the girder, has two control membersj2 and k2, activated by stops 53 and 54. Rod 6A of jack 6 displaces thejack assembly 53 toward the interior of the support 55, rigidly attachedto girder 16. When jack 5B is moved toward the top of the girder by rod6A of jack 6, it activates control member m. Inversely, when jack 5B ismoved toward the bottom of the girder by rod 6A, it activates thecontrol member n.

We note furthermore that, when the girder 16 tips or pivots into thevertical position, a rod 56 mounted thereon is removed from the axis ofthe drill hole. In order to move the rod 56 into the drill hole axis,the nippers 7Al-7Dl are moved transversely outwardly from the girder andthen nippers 7Bl are longitudinally displaced by the jack 6 so as tomove the rod into a position suitable for being screwed, for example, tothe train of rods. The lower stop of the girder 16 is at a shortdistance from the tightening key 3, which enables us to increase thespeed of handling. This is particularly important when the elementtransported is a heavy element, such as a pipe, which only has to bedisplaced over a short vertical distance in order to put it intightening position on its joint.

The possibilities offered by this invention will be further discussed inthe course of the detailed description of the circuits connecting thevarious control members or valves shown in FIGS. 3-1 1.

In FIG. 12, the elements G1 to G24 represent, in a symbolic manner,switches which can be moved to connect a circuit with one or another offour lines, one being destined for automatic rod train liftingoperations; another one for automatic rod train lowering operations; thethird for the semi-automatic operations of the members of the systemwith a view to accomplishing special holding operations relative to theplacement of tubing, for example; and the fourth being used for manualoperations. It is clear that the positions of members G1 through G24 canbe changed by the use of a single general switch.

For greater clarity, we have shown three lines for the switches G1 to Gand two lines for the switches G11 to G24, all of them being switchedonto the automatic control line for raising the rod train.

The connection of the circuits shown in FIGS. 12-19 is accomplished inaccordance with the scheme in FIG. 20. The representation of theconnection circuits between the various members described earlier hasbeen designed to facilitate the explanation here but it goes withoutsaying that the hydraulic circuits represented here involve valvespermitting the circulation of control fluid exclusively in the directionindicated by the arrows and that, in fact, the diagram could be modifieddepending upon the technique adopted, particularly if all or a portionof the control members are replaced by electric valves.

We will first of all concentrate on the case where the rod train must beraised. For this purpose, the operator turns the general switch to the Rposition and the switch H, controlling the communication of switches R1to R2], to the position D, so as to eliminate the connection circuitsrelative to the members that are exclusively used for pipe handling.

We will assume first of all that the operator has checked to make surethat the girder I6 is locked in the vertical position, that theintermediate nippers 7B1 of the girder are in the low position, and thatthe arms 8Al-8Cl of the derrick are retracted, with their nippers beingclosed. If these conditions have been met, the light v2, FIG. 12 isturned on by circuit 71, connected to the output of circuit ETIOO, whichis activated by the simultaneous presence:

a. of the signal transmitted by the control member I, FIG. 19, signalingthe locking of the girder in the top position, the member I beingactivated by the exit of jack rod 10 and I being connected to 100 byline 101, FIGS. 12 and 19;

b. of the signal transmitted by member p, FIG. 15, indicating theplacement, in the low position, of the jack 5B of the girder, member pbeing connected to 100 by line 102, FIGS. 12 and 15; and

c. of the signal coming from the simultaneous control of the member ll,12, and 13, FIG. 18, indicating the closing of the three nippers of arms9A, 9B, and 9C of the derrick, this signal being transmitted by theoutput of circuit ET 103 connected to terminal T of H14 whose commonterminal is connected to wire 104, FIGS. 18 and 12.

When light v2 is on, the operator pushes pushbutton R2, FIG. 12, whichsimultaneously triggers three members: the jacks of the girder, thecollar 18 of the elevator, and the tightening key 3, these members beingactivated by connections 105, 106, and 107. The connection 105 activatesthe jacks 5A, 5B, and SD of the girder, FIG. 13, Le, the upper, middleand lower nippers carrier arms. For this purpose, 105, FIG. 12,activates a delay timer 14 which in turn activates control member w andby 61, G5, and 72, FIG. 13, the activation of member 5 which activatesthe double action 15 jacks 5A to SE, bringing about the exit or reentryof the girder arms, the control being performed by line 108 if the armsare out and by 109 if they are back in. When the jacks are in thewithdrawn position, the control is then perfonned by 109 bringing aboutthe activation of 20 jack 5A by H2, of jack 58 by H3, and of jack 5C,the

switches H having been switched to T.

The three jacks are then extended when the corresponding control membersjl, j2, and j4 have been activated, each bringing about the transmissionof a signal to the device ET 110 whose output is transmitted by H1 and75.

The connection 106, FIG. 12, activates the opening of the collar of theelevator controlled by jack 1. For this purpose, connection 106 leadsthrough G1 to the connection 81 triggering by means of 1', FIG. 16(whose role is similar to 5' as indicated in the symbolic representationadopted for FIGS. 16 and 13), the control of the re-entry of the rod ofjack 1 by line 111. At the end of the run, the rod activates the memberf which, through 112 and H11, controls the withdrawal of the pulleyblock 23 through the activation of jack 2. At the end of the return runof jack rod 2, the control member 0 transmits a signal throughconnection 85 to light v3.

The connection 107 controls the automatic tightening key 3 by means ofG3 and connection 87, FIG. 17. When the torque exerted by key 3 reachesa certain predetermined value, shown by indicator 11, the latteractivates member x. This member lights up the lamp s3, and through 89and a connection to be described later on, prepares for the activationof the nippers of the girder.

We note that we have allocated to each assembly of control circuits alamp $1 to s10 which enables the operator to follow the performance ofthe cycle at any instant. These signals, which activate these lamps,also serve for the control of the members placed in action here so as toaccomplish the automatic rod train raising or lowering operations andfor this purpose the connection between the lamps and said members arecontrolled by switching members G1 to G24, controlled by the generalswitch.

The sideways movement or offset of the pulley block, by means of memberc, FIG. 16, produces a signal transmitted by 83, G17, FIG. 12, and theconnection 90 lights up lamp v3. In broken lines, we show a connectionbetween v3 and the pulley block descent control member DM to indicatethat the operator can directly control the winch which lowers the pulleyblock 23 or that an automatic circuit controls the member DM.

On the other hand, the return of the tightening key 3 into the restposition brings about the activation of contacts 3, FIG. 17, whichtransmit a signal via 91 and G12, FIG. 12, to line 92 leading to deviceET 113.

Similarly, member x, FIG. 17, placed in action by torque indicator 11,transmits a signal via 89 and G15, FIG. 12, leading via 57 to the deviceET 114, whereas the signal coming from device ET 1 10, FIG. 13, andindicating the end of the girder jack extension operation, istransmitted by 75 and G14, FIG. 12, to the connection 58, leading to thedevice ET 114. The simultaneous presence of signals at 57 and 58 enablesus to arrange, at 115, an output signal transmitted by G7 and 94, FIG.14, to the inverter 7' and from there to the control jacks 7A, 7B, and7D of the nippers of the girder which close tight on the rod. At the endof the run, the rods of these jacks activate members r1, r2, and r4,transmitting a signal to the device ET 116, H19, the connection 95, FIG.12, and G21 and from there toward lines 59 and 60.

Through 59, G9, and line 96, FIG. 18, the signal activates 9' and,through 117, the opening of the nippers 9A, 9B, and 9C of the derrick,whereas, through line 60, G6, and 97, FIG. 15, the signal activates therise of the middle jack of the girder through the activation of theinverter 6' and then ofjack 6 via 118.

At the end of the run of the mechanisms of 9A, 9B, and 9C, the membersm1, m2, and m3, respectively, transmit a signal whose coincidencepermits the passage of the signal to the output of device ET 119,connected, by connections 120 and H20, to the control members ofmechanisms 8A, 8B, and 8C, bringing about the return of the arms of thederrick. At the end of the run, these mechanisms activate, respectively,the control members b1, b2, and b3, transmitting a signal whosesimultaneous presence permits the transmission of the signal to theoutput of device ET 121 and via H16, to the connection 98, FIG. 12,leading via G11 and 93 to the device ET 113.

When jack rod 6 finishes its run, the middle jack of the girder is inthe top position and activates the member n which transmits a signal via99, FIG. 12, G23, 61, G5, 72, FIG. 13, and activates the inverteractivating the retraction of the arms of the girder by the activation ofjacks 5A to SE via 108. At the end of the retraction of the girder arms,k1, k2, and k4 transmit a signal whose simultaneousness permits thetransmission of a signal to the output of a device ET 122 and via H18and the connection 123, FIG. 12 to G24, then via 64 to the device ET184. The signal available at G11, coming from the members r1, r2, r4,FIG. 14, through wire 94, is also transmitted to ET 184 via derivationconnection 185, so that a signal is available at 180 connected to thedevice ET 113.

The simultaneous presence of a signal on line 80, 92, and 93 bringsabout the transmission of a signal to the output of ET 113 which lightsup a lamp v4.

In a first variation, the operator directly activates the pushbutton R4the moment lamp v4 goes on and the moment the pulley block 23 hascompleted its descent.

According to a second variation, a signal is transmitted by v4 and it istransmitted by 124 to circuit ET 125, while a second signal, transmittedat the end of the run of the pulley block 23 and shown schematically bythe junction of DM and of line 126, is transmitted to the device ET 125,controlling R4, in case of the simultaneous presence of signals on lines126 and 124.

The operation of button R4 brings about the activation ofjack 2 byline62, G2, line 127, FIG. 16, 2' and 128. Jack 2 returns the pulley block23 to its original central position with the pulley block thenactivating the member d at the end of the run. The signal transmitted byd is transmitted, via line 129 and via H10, to jack 1, which, by closingthe collar 18 of the elevator, activates at the end of the run of itsrod, the member e which in turn transmits a signal. This signal istransmitted via 130, FIG. 12, G16 and 63 thus lighting up v1.

When light v1 goes on, this activates the rise of the pulley block 23whose winch may be operated either manually or automatically asindicated by the dotted line connecting v1 to MM.

On the other hand, while the control member k transmitted a signal toconnection 80, a signal was also being transmitted to jack 10 for theunlocking of the girder by 65, G10, and 131, FIG. 19, as well as to thedelay timer 12 via lines 65 and 186.

When the girder is unlocked, that is to say, at the end of the run, therod of jack 10 activates member s, the latter activates the return ofthe rod of jack 4, returning the girder to the horizontal position. Inthis position, control member 1' transmits a signal through line 132,FIG. 12, and G13.

On the other hand, the delay timer 12, FIG. 12, activates the controlmember u, which, through connection 61, G5, 72, FIG. 13, the inverter5', the line 109, brings about the outward extension of the jacks 5A, 5Band SD of the girder, activated in parallel as described earlier. As wesaw before, the outward extension of the activated jacks produces,through j1,j2, and j4, a signal transmitted via 75, FIG. I, and G14.

The simultaneous presence of a signal on lines 58 and 66, connectedrespectively with G14 and G13, brings about the transmission of a signalto the output of 133 which is transmitted via 115, G7, and 94, FIG. 14,to the inverter member 7'. With the girder nippers closed, the member 7'brings about the withdrawal of the rods ofjacks 7A, 7B, and 7D via line134.

At the end of the run of rods of jacks 7A, 7B and 7D, the members qI,q2, and q4 transmit a signal which is transmitted to the device ET 135and from there via H6 and 137, FIG. 12, G22, 68, 61, G5, 72, FIG. 13, tothe inverter 5', with a view to the withdrawal of the girder jacks.

During the tipping of the girder 16, the pulley block 23 continues to goup. At the end of the run, it is then possible to order the placement onwedges and to trigger the button R1, as indicated by dotted lines 136,connecting MM and PC and 138 connecting MM to R1.

The triggering of R1 produces, via 67, G8, and 139, FIG. 18, theactivation of the inverter 8' and, consequently, the outward extensionof the arms of the derrick by mechanisms 8A, 8B, and 8C through 140. Atthe end of the run, the rods of these jacks activate the control membersa1, a2, and a3, transmitting a signal to the device ET 141 and fromthere, via H17, 142, H21, 143, to jacks 9A, 9B, 9C, bringing about theclosing of the nippers of the arms of the derrick and, at the end of theclosing, the activation of control members l1, l2, and 13. These memberstransmit a signal to the device ET 103, controlling, via H14, 104, FIG.12, and G18, a signal to ET 100.

During this period of time, the signal transmitted to the inverter FIG.13, brings about, through 108, the activation of jacks 5A, 5B, and 5D.At the end of the run of the rods of these jacks k1, k2, and k4 transmita signal which is transmitted, via ET 122, H18, 123, FIG. 12, G24 and64, to the device ET 187, while the signal coming from members ql, q2,and q4, transmitted via 137, G22, and 68, is likewise transmitted to thesame device ET 187. The output of device 187 then transmits a signalwhich is directed, on 188, on the one hand, toward G4 and 144, FIG. 19,to activate the jack 4 which returns the girder 16 to the verticalposition, and on the other hand, via 70, 60, G6, 97, FIG. 15, inverter6', connection 145 bringing about the descent of the middle jack of thegirder.

When the girder arrives in the vertical position, the member h, FIG. 8,triggers the locking jack 10 of the girder. The exit of the rod of thisjack at the end of the run activates the member I which, through 101,FIG. 12, and G20, transmits a signal to the device ET 100.

Likewise, when the rod of jack 6, FIG. 15, arrives at the end of therun, it activates member p which transmits a signal, via 102, FIG. 1,and G19, to the device ET 100.

With a signal present at the three inputs of device ET 100 its outputtransmits a signal, via 71, triggering the lighting of lamp v2,indicating that the cycle has just been completed. The operator can thenstart and identical cycle by once again operating button R2.

When we want to lower the rod train in automatic operation, it sufficesto put the index of the general switch on stud D after making sure thatthe members are in a suitable position, that is to say, that the girder16 is in the vertical position, that its arms are in the retractedposition and hold a rod, that the pulley block 23 is moved sideways orofi'set, that the tightening key 3 is in the resting position, and thatthe arms of the derrick are in the retracted position.

The components set in motion during the automatic operation of loweringthe rod train are the same as those volved in the rod raising operationand we will therefore indicate only the course of the successiveoperations.

Light V2 is on and the operator activates the member MM for the raisingof the pulley block 23 by depressing D2, if a direct connection, such as146, is provided, or he directly activates the corresponding winch inthe absence of an automatic connection.

D2 controls the exit of the arms of the derrick through 147, with thetime delay member 13 activating v, the line 148 being linked to D by G8,the connection 139, FIG. 18, the inverter 8', 140, and the mechanisms8A, 8B, and 8C.

D2 also activates the exit of the arms of the girder through 147, 149,connected to stud D of G5, 72, FIG. 13, 5', 109, and the jacks 5A, 5B,and 5D.

The members a1 a2, and a3, controlled by the exit of the arms of thederrick, FIG. 18, through H17 and 142, control the mechanisms 9 for theclosing of the nippers of the derrick arms.

Likewise, members 31, j2, and j4, FIG. 2, controlled by the exit of thegirder arms, transmit a signal via 110,

75, FIG. 12, G14 and 72, to the device ET 189. This same device alsogets signal r1, r2, and r4, coming from 95, FIG. 14, since we supposedthat the nippers of the girder were closed. Thus, the device 189receives two input signals, one from the connection 72, and the otherone from the connections 95, G21, 85, and derivation 190. From thisthere results an output signal 291, G6, 97, FIG. 15, 6, 145, with jack 6bringing about the descent of the middle jack of the girder, thusassuring the engagement of the joint of the rod. At the end of the runof the middle jack, the member p is placed in action and, through 102,FIGS. 15 and 12, G19 in the position D and connection 73, transmits asignal to b3, which in turn is transmitted to the control 3, FIG. 17, ofthe tightening member of the joints via 87. The signal coming from 73 isalso transmitted to the device ET 150 via 15], which when receiving asignal via 74, coming from members 11, I2, and 13, FIG. 18, via 104,FIG. 12, and G18, transmits a signal via 76, G7, 94, FIG. 14, to 7',then via 134 to 7A, 7B, 7C, and 7D for the opening of the nippers of thegirder 16.

With the tightening key having been activated by means of 3, FIG. 17,the member x is activated the moment the tightening torque attains apredetermined value, lighting up the lamp V3 by means of 89, FIG. 12,G15, and 192.

After the pulley block lifting member MM has been activated via D2, D3can be depressed by the operator or it can be triggered automatically bythe connection 152. The device ET 153 receives two input signals and canin effect transmit an output signal at D3.

Its triggering brings about the activation of jack 2 through 77, 127,FIG. 16, 2', and 128, and, consequently, the centering of the pulleyblock 23 which brings about the closing of the elevator collar 18through jack 1, controlled by d, 129 and H10, FIG. 16. At the end of thecourse of the rod of jack 1, the member e emits a signal through 130,FIG. 12, G16, and 78, thus lighting up lamp V4. Parallel to theillumination of V4, the connection 154, connecting G16 to G9, transmitsthe signal, through 96, FIG. 18, to 9' and from there, through 117, to9A, 9B, and 9C, thus causing the opening of the derrick nippers.

During the screwing operation, the member 7, controlling the opening ofthe nippers of the girder, brings about the activation of the membersql, q2, and q4, which, through and 137, FIG. 12, G22, 79, G5, 72, FIG.12, 5', and 108, bring about the command for the retraction of the arms5A 5B, and 5D. The corresponding members It], k2, and k4 emit a signal,through 122, H18, 123, FIG. 12, G24, and 155, supplying the device ET193 with power, while the connection 179, connected to G22 and 137,transmits, to the same device, the signal coming from ql q2, and q4.From this results a signal at the output of ET 193 which is transmitted,via 156, G6, 97, FIG. 15, 6', and 118, to jack 6, in order to raise themiddle arm up to its initial position. The signal transmitted by thecontrols, of k1, k2, and k4, and ql, q2, and q4, is likewisetransmitted, in parallel with 156, to the connection 82, and from there,via G10 and 131, FIG. 19, to jack 10, causing the unlocking of thegirder and, consequently, the activation of control member s. The latterin turn activates jack 4, moving the girder into the horizontalposition.

At the end of the run of the girder, the member 1' transmits a signal,via 132, FIG. 12, G13, 83, 79, G5, 72, FIG. 13, 5', and 109, to thejacks 5A, 5B, and 5D, thus bringing about the exit of the correspondingarms of the girder. Through 110, the members jl, j2, and j4 produce thetransmission of a signal which is transmitted, via 75, FIG. 12, to thedevice ET 194, while the signal i, coming from 132, FIGS. 19 and 12,reaches the same device. A signal is then transmitted through the outputof ET 194, 84, 76, G7, 94, FIG. 14, to the inverter 7 and from there,via 157, to the jacks 7A, 7B, and 7D, controlling the closing of thenippers of the corresponding arms and, hence, the members r1, r2, andr4. The latter transmit a signal via 116, H19, 95, FIG. 1,021, 85' thedelay timer 14, with the member w activating 5' through 159, 97, G5, and72, FIG. 13, and from there, via 108, the jacks 5A, 5B, and 5d.

The signal transmitted by 85', in parallel with the activation of delaytimer [4, brings about the activation of jack 4 through the connection:85, G4, and 144, FIG. 19.

At the end of the opening of the derrick arm nippers, the members ml,m2, and m3, FIG. 18, emit a signal, through 119, 120, H20, thuscontrolling the mechanisms 8A, 8B, and 8C, bringing about the retractionof the derrick arms. At the end of the run, these mechanisms activatethe members b1, b2, and b3, which transmit a signal, through 98, FIG.12, and G1 I, to the device ET 161. On the other hand, the tighteningdevice 3 having been activated at the beginning of the cycle and havingin turn activated 3 at the end of the work, a signal is then alsoapplied to the device ET 161 through g, FIG. 17, 91, FIG. 1, and G12. Asignal is then transmitted through ET 161 and through 8b up to lamp VIwhich lights up.

The illumination of V1 and the unblocking of the wedges, activatedduring the illumination of V4, bring about the activation of the descentof the pulley block 23 by the member DM, as shown in device ET 162. Thisoperation is followed by a new placement on wedges, as indicated byconnection 163. When this has been completed, the operator can activateD1 as indicated by connection 160.

The triggering of D1, through 164, G1, 81, FIG. 16, I, and Ill, bringsabout the activation of jack 1, assuring the opening of the elevatorcollar. The member I, activated at the end of the run, in turn activatesjack 2, through 112, and H11, thus bringing about the sidewaysstaggering of the pulley block 23. At the end of the run, the rod ofjack 2 activates c, transmitting a signal, via 85, FIG. 12, G17, and 87,to the device ET 165.

Simultaneously, if the jack 4, FIG. 19, having been activated so as toreturn the girder into the vertical position, the member h activates thelocking jack 10, whose rod at the end of the run activates the member I.The latter transmits a signal through 101, FIG. 12, G20, and 166,through the device ET 165. The presence of a signal at the two inputs ofthe device then, through its output line, causes V2 to light up.

Since jacks 5A, 5B, and 5D have been activated at the same time as themember I, the members kl, k2, and k4, indicating the return of thegirder anns, return the corresponding circuits into the same initialstate as at the beginning of the cycle, so that, when V2 lights up, theoperator can start a new cycle.

The action of the control means for the various components is sodesigned as to permit the maneuvering of the tubing and the drillcollars by simple switching so as to isolate, in the automatic controlcircuits which we have just described, the connections which normallybring about the transition from one operation to the next with a view tothe automatic lifting or lowering of the rods. We thus limit theautomatic portion to independent unique operations or to a limitedsequence of operations involving non-independent members. Likewise, byswitching we eliminate the connections that activate the members usedexclusively for holding the rods. Thus, heavy elements are maneuveredunder the control of an operator by means of a succession of simpleoperations offering the advantage of making automatic the performance ofeach operation or sequences of dependent operations, thus increasing thespeed of maneuvering and the reliability of the entire assembly whileretaining the simplicity of the maneuvers, in spite of the lengthintervals of the elements handled by the same members under automaticcontrol.

It is thus possible very simply to switch from the operations oflowering and raising the trains of rods assembled in 27-meter elementsto the manipulations of 9-meter drill collars or 9/ l 4-meter tubing,for example.

For this purpose, the index of the general switch G is moved from R (orD) to SA, activating the connections corresponding to semi-automaticoperations, and the index of switch H is moved from T to Dr. Thisswitching enables us to select the members of the derrick and of thegirder involved in the particular operations.

In order to facilitate the description, we will assume that we want tomove a heavy tubing element or a drill collar and that, in thebeginning, the girder is in the vertical position on the derrick, theheavy element being supported by stop 5E and the jacks 5D and 5C beingin retracted position, while the pulley block 23 has just been offsetsideways.

Under these conditions, when the operator pushes the pushbutton 85, FIG.13, he orders the extension of arms 5C, 5D, and SE of the girder throughcircuit I67, FIG. 12, G5, whose stub S.A. is then switched with 72, FIG.13, 5', 109, and in parallel, H4, H5, and the direct line connected to5D. At the end of the operation, the members j3, j4, and j5 areactivated by the rods of the jacks and transmit a signal to the deviceET 168 whose output is connected via to s5 by means of H1 which isswitched to Dr. The light s5 then goes on, warning the operator that theoperation has been completed; he can then go on to the next operation,that is to say, the triggering of the outward extension of the arms ofthe derrick.

For this purpose, the operator simultaneously pushes pushbuttons S8,FIG. 18, and S2, FIG. 16, pushbutton S8 through 169, FIG. 12, G8, 139,FIG. 18, 8', and 140, controls the mechanisms 88 and 8C, since SA hasnot been activated because of the opening of H12. The members a1 and a3have been placed in action by the mechanisms reaching the end of therun; they transmit a signal to the device ET 170, connected via H17 and171 to s8. The light 58 goes on, warning the operator as to the exit ofthe middle arm 88 and the lower arm 8C of the derrick.

At the same time, 82 having been activated, jack 2 is activated by 172,FIG. 12, G2, 127, FIG. 16, 2, and 128, so as to return the pulley block23 to the axis of the derrick. At the end of the run, the member dtransmits a signal via 173 to s2 which goes on.

After the exit of the derrick arms, that is to say, when s8 is lit up,the operator activates S9, bringing about the closing of the nippers 9via 174, FIG. 12, 96, FIG. 18, 9', 117. The members m2 and m3 then bringabout the emission of a signal which lights up the lamp s9 via 175.

The operator can then activate S1, thus operating, by means of 176, FIG.12, G1, 81, FIG. 16, 1', 177 and H10, the jack 1, which closes thecollar of the elevator. At the end of the operation, the member etransmits a signal which is transmitted via 130, to the lamp s1 whichgoes on.

By activating S7, FIG. 14, the operator opens the nippers of the arms ofthe girder by means of circuit 178, FIG. 12, G7, 94 FIG. 14, 7', 134,and in parallel 7C and 7D. At the end of the run of the rods of thesejacks, q3 and q4 transmit a signal via ET 179 and 137 to s7 which goeson.

In order to pick up the weight of the pipe, the operator causes thepulley block 23 to rise and he activates S in order to withdraw the armsof the girder. The jacks 5C, 5D, and 5E are controlled through 167,FIGS. 13 and 12, 72, FIG, 13. 5', and 180. At the end of the operation,s5 is lit up due to the activation of the signal emitted by k3, k4, andk5, 180, H18, and 123.

The operator then turns on the pulley block 23 in order to engage thejoint of the tubing and simultaneously activates S10 in order to unlockand return the girder to the horizontal position. S10, by means of 181,FIG. 1, 131, FIG. 8, controls the jack 10. At the end of the unlockingoperation, the member s illuminates s10 and activates the jack 4 for thetipping of the girder.

The joint having been engaged and the screwing having been accomplishedby conventional means, the operator then activates S9, FIG. 18, which,through 174, FIG. 1, G9, 96, and H21, causes the retraction of the rodsof jacks 9B and 9C. The members 12 and 13 then, through 182 and 104,cause s9 to light up.

The operator can then activate S8 for the retraction of the arms of thederrick which is accomplished by circuit 169, FIG. 12, 139, FIG. 18,8,H20, and jacks 8B and 8C. The members b2 and b3 at the end of theoperation cause s8 to be lit up by 183 and H16.

Once the girder has reached the horizontal position, the member 1', FIG.19, transmits a signal which, through 132, causes $4 to light up. Theoperator can then pick up a new element and for this purpose hesuccessively activates s5, for the exit of the arms of the girder, S7for closing of the nippers of the girder whose control is accomplished,FIG. 14, by 94 and 157, r3 and r4 emitting a signal at 198, S4 for theraising of the girder whose control is performed by 195, G4, and 144,FIG. 19, the jack 4 returning to the loaded girder into the verticalposition and the member h causing it to be locked. The moment S4triggers the lifting of the girder, the operator activates S5 in orderto withdraw the arms of the girder.

During the performance of these latter operations, the first element hasbeen screwed and the operator disengages the corners with the help ofthe pulley block 23 and then he sees to the lowering of the pulley blockunder load in order finally to put the pipes on the wedges.

Ill

The operator then activates S1, controlling the opening of the elevator,then $2, the moment s1 has lit up, so as to stagger the pulley blockssideways. We are thus back at the initial conditions, so that itsuffices for the operator to resume the succession of commands describedpreviously.

It is clear that, since the middle jack of girder 5B has not been used,the operator did not have to manipulate button S6 which serves to raiseor lower the middle jack arm as desired. For this purpose, S6, FIG. 15,is connected by 196 to G6, FIG. 12, and from there to 97, connected tothe previously described control for jack 6, FIG. 15. Likewise, themaneuvering of the tightening key 3 can be controlled as desired throughS3, FIG. 17, connected via 197, FIG. 12, to G3 and from there via 87 tothe control of the mechanism 3, FIG. 17.

The action of the hydraulic circuits, which have just been described, byway of example in the form of a scheme, may take on many other formsespecially when the members that transmit the control signals, such asx, r, u, etc., are electrical contacts. The conditions bringing aboutthe activation of well determined members in the course of an automaticcycle can be replaced by combinations of equivalent conditions. By wayof example, the condition where we have a signal k and a signal r, inthe course of the automatic lifting of the rods for the control of jack10, could be replaced by the condition where we have signals j and m.

As to the arms equipped with stops or nippers, it is quite obvious thattheir number may vary and that any particular mechanism may be activatedindividually; these individual activation controls are known inthemselves and can be of any suitable type.

What is claimed is:

l. Stacking and handling apparatus for drilling rods or tubularelements, comprising:

a. a derrick including movable rod holding arms,

rigid vertically extending guide means, a rigid support verticallymovable on said guide means, a pulley block slidably mounted on saidsupport for lateral movement, an elevator secured to said pulley blockand having a collar, means for laterally moving said pulley block to anoffset position outside of the drilling axis, and means for moving saidsupport and said pulley block vertically when said pulley block is insaid offset position; and a girder pivotable about a horizontal axisbetween vertical and horizontal positions and including retractablemeans for supporting a rod so as to take it from a horizontal positionto a vertical position and vice versa, said supporting means havingmeans for grasping the rod and moving it from a retracted position to anextended position and vice versa perpendicularly to the axis of thegirder.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising a station for thehorizontal alignment of drilling rods, said station having means formoving each rod over a precise distance from the axis of said girderwhen the latter is in the horizontal position, and means for moving theend of each rod perpendicularly with respect to a precise point on theaxis of the girder, said girder being pivoted on said derrick in such aposition that the tipping of the girder to a vertical position, bearinga rod picked up by said grasping means, in the retracted position, movessaid rod into a position spaced from said pulley block when it is insaid offset position, said grasping means serving to move the rod to theextended position in alignment with the drilling axis.

3. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said grasping means is movable in adirection parallel to said girder axis, and means are provided formoving said grasping means in said direction.

4. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said pulley block moving meanscomprises a slide bar rigidly mounted on said support along which thepulley block can move, and a jack, said jack moving said pulley blockbetween said offset position and a second position in which the axis ofsaid pulley block coincides with the drilling axis.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said girder further comprisesa means for hooking onto its upper portion cooperating with a lockingdevice attached to said derrick, and a lower stop for supporting heavytubular elements, the position of said stop on said girder being suchthat, when the girder is pivoted to the vertical position, said stop isat a small vertical distance from a drilling joint adapted to receivesaid elements.

6. Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein each of said pulley block, saidsupporting means, said grasping means and said girder is associated withtwo members, each of which transmits a control signal in response to themovement of said pulley block, supporting means, grasping means andgirder to their extreme positions, and wherein similar transmittermembers are provided on said derrick arms and said elevator collar andare responsive to the movement of said arms and said collar to theirextreme positions.

7. Apparatus as in claim 6 wherein:

a. the control signal transmission member, associated with the openingof said elevator collar, is connected to control means for movement ofsaid pulley block to said offset position;

b. the control signal transmission member, as-

sociated with the control means for the movement of the pulley block tosaid second position is connected to the means for the control of theclosing of said elevator collar;

c. the control signal transmission member, associated with the extensionof said arms of the derrick, is connected to the means for the controlof the closing of nippers on the arms of the derrick;

. the control signal transmission member associated with the opening ofsaid nippers on said derrick arms, is connected to the means for thecontrol of the withdrawal of the derrick arms; and

e. a triggering member, maneuvered by the operator,

is provided for the individual control of opening and closing of saidcollar of the elevator, the movement of said pulley block between saidofiset and second positions, the pivotal movement of said girder, themovement of said girder supporting and grasping means, the extension andreturn of said arms of the derrick, the opening and closing of saidnippers on the derrick arms, and the locking and unlocking of saidgirder in the vertical position.

8. Apparatus as in claim 7 further comprising a general switch and aseries of switching members connected to said general switch and to fourlines inserted in control connections for the movable components of saida pa ratus, said ge eral switch providing for t e contro 0 each group 0associated components in ependent of each other when it is switched intoa first position, said general switch connecting the component controlsand the associated component groups with each other, so as to assure thecyclic and automatic performance of the operations of raising the rodsor lowering the rods, depending on whether it is switched to a second ora third position, and said general switch rendering each componentcontrol of one and the same group of components independent when it isswitched to a fourth position.

9. Apparatus as in claim 8 wherein a portion of said grasping means,mounted on said girder, is used exclusively for holding pipes and drillcollars, and another portion thereof is used for holding drilling rods,control means are provided for said portions of said grasping means, andswitching means is connected to said control means to provide for theindependent operation of said portions of said grasping means.

1. Stacking and handling apparatus for drilling rods or tubularelements, comprising: a. a derrick including movable rod holding arms,rigid vertically extending guide means, a rigid support verticallymovable on said guide means, a pulley block slidably mounted on saidsupport for lateral movement, an elevator secured to said pulley blockand having a collar, means for laterally moving said pulley block to anoffset position outside of the drilling axis, and means for moving saidsupport and said pulley block vertically when said pulley block is insaid offset position; and b. a girder pivotable about a horizontal axisbetween vertical and horizontal positions and including retractablemeans for supporting a rod so as to take it from a horizontal positionto a vertical position and vice versa, said supporting means havingmeans for grasping the rod and moving it from a retracted position to anextended position and vice versa perpendicularly to the axis of thegirder.
 2. Apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising a station for thehorizontal alignment of drilling rods, said station having means formoving each rod over a precise distance from the axis of said girderwhen the latter is in the horizontal position, and means for moving theend of each rod perpendicularly with respect to a precise point on theaxis of the girder, said girder being pivoted on said derrick in such aposition that the tipping of the girder to a vertical position, bearinga rod picked up by said grasping means, in the retracted position, movessaid rod into a position spaced from said pulley block when it is insaid offset position, said grasping means serving to move the rod to theextended position in alignment with the drilling axis.
 3. Apparatus asin claim 1 wherein said grasping means is movable in a directionparallel to said girder axis, and means are provided for moving saidgrasping means in said direction.
 4. Apparatus as in claim 1 whereinsaid pulley block moving means comprises a slide bar rigidly mounted onsaid support along which the pulley block can move, and a jack, saidjack moving said pulley block between said offset position and a secondposition in which the axis of said pulley block coincides with thedrilling axis.
 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said girderfurther comprises a means for hooking onto its upper portion cooperatingwith a locking device attached to said derrick, and a lower stop forsupporting heavy tubular elements, the position of said stop on saidgirder being such that, when the girder is pivoted to the verticalposition, said stop is at a small vertical distance from a drillingjoint adapted to receive said elements.
 6. Apparatus as in claim 5wherein each of said pulley block, said supporting means, said graspingmeans and said girder is assoCiated with two members, each of whichtransmits a control signal in response to the movement of said pulleyblock, supporting means, grasping means and girder to their extremepositions, and wherein similar transmitter members are provided on saidderrick arms and said elevator collar and are responsive to the movementof said arms and said collar to their extreme positions.
 7. Apparatus asin claim 6 wherein: a. the control signal transmission member,associated with the opening of said elevator collar, is connected tocontrol means for movement of said pulley block to said offset position;b. the control signal transmission member, associated with the controlmeans for the movement of the pulley block to said second position isconnected to the means for the control of the closing of said elevatorcollar; c. the control signal transmission member, associated with theextension of said arms of the derrick, is connected to the means for thecontrol of the closing of nippers on the arms of the derrick; d. thecontrol signal transmission member associated with the opening of saidnippers on said derrick arms, is connected to the means for the controlof the withdrawal of the derrick arms; and e. a triggering member,maneuvered by the operator, is provided for the individual control ofopening and closing of said collar of the elevator, the movement of saidpulley block between said offset and second positions, the pivotalmovement of said girder, the movement of said girder supporting andgrasping means, the extension and return of said arms of the derrick,the opening and closing of said nippers on the derrick arms, and thelocking and unlocking of said girder in the vertical position. 8.Apparatus as in claim 7 further comprising a general switch and a seriesof switching members connected to said general switch and to four linesinserted in control connections for the movable components of saidapparatus, said general switch providing for the control of each groupof associated components independent of each other when it is switchedinto a first position, said general switch connecting the componentcontrols and the associated component groups with each other, so as toassure the cyclic and automatic performance of the operations of raisingthe rods or lowering the rods, depending on whether it is switched to asecond or a third position, and said general switch rendering eachcomponent control of one and the same group of components independentwhen it is switched to a fourth position.
 9. Apparatus as in claim 8wherein a portion of said grasping means, mounted on said girder, isused exclusively for holding pipes and drill collars, and anotherportion thereof is used for holding drilling rods, control means areprovided for said portions of said grasping means, and switching meansis connected to said control means to provide for the independentoperation of said portions of said grasping means.